In the last few years, it's often been the case that at least one Indie game has seemingly come out of nowhere and been a major hit. For example, last year had Dredge and Cocoon, 2022 had Tunic and Stray, and 2021 had Inscryption. Just two months from 2024's end, it seems safe to say that Balatro is 2024's breakout Indie sensation, with its addictive roguelike deck-building gameplay and top-notch community support keeping it immensely popular eight months after its initial launch.
Balatro has become so popular, in fact, that it's now able to collaborate with a handful of other popular titles, including some heavy hitters in both the Indie and AAA space. Called the 'Friends of Jimbo' pack, Balatro's first crossover landed in August, bringing cards based on The Witcher 3, Dave the Diver, Vampire Survivors, and Among Us. A second Friends of Jimbo pack has just been released, adding another set of cosmetic collaborations, including ones based on another beloved CD Projekt Red title.
Balatro's Friends of Jimbo Pack 2 Explained
Balatro Has Added Cards Inspired by Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 has come a long way since its infamously troubled launch in December 2020. Thanks to a consistent stream of updates and patches from developer CD Projekt Red, Cyberpunk 2077 has become the RPG it always meant to be, and last year's acclaimed Phantom Liberty expansion raised it to all-new heights.
Public perception surrounding Cyberpunk 2077 has changed drastically, to the point where it's now one of the biggest highlights of Balatro's recently released Friends of Jimbo pack 2. With this completely free update, players can now customize their deck to include a set of cards based on Cyberpunk 2077. Keanu Reeves' iconic Johnny Silverhand takes on the role of Balatro's King of Spades, while Rogue Amendiares is the Queen, and Jackie Welles is the Jack.
Stardew Valley, The Binding of Isaac, and Slay the Spire All Feature in Balatro's Latest Crossover Pack
Just like Balatro's first Friends of Jimbo pack, this second update adds three more crossover cosmetics alongside the CD Projekt Red collaboration. Stardew Valley is now in Balatro, with the game's General Store clerk, Pierre, taking on the role of the Jack of Diamonds. Marnie leaves her ranch to become Balatro's Queen of Diamonds, and Lewis, the mayor of Pelican Town, becomes Balatro's King of Diamonds.
The adorably gruesome and macabre Binding of Isaac also joins in on the fun. Isaac himself becomes the King of Hearts, while his Mom takes a break from being the final boss to take on the role of the Queen of Hearts, and a decapitated dog becomes the Jack. Slay the Spire gets three collab cards as well, bringing the Silent, the Ironclad, and the Defect to the game.
There are now eight major collaborations in Balatro, but that might not be the end of things. In its official announcement of the second Friends of Jimbo pack on Twitter, Balatro's developer teased more collaborations with other titles in the future, signing off with "Is this the full squad, or is there more to come?" There are still plenty of other Indie games Balatro could crossover with, with fellow card game Inscryption being a great example.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 92 /100 Critics Rec: 100%
- Released
- February 20, 2024
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Gambling Themes
- Developer(s)
- LocalThunk
- Publisher(s)
- Playstack
- Engine
- LÖVE
WHERE TO PLAY
Balatro is a poker-inspired roguelike deck builder all about creating powerful synergies and winning big.
The poker roguelike. Balatro is a hypnotically satisfying deckbuilder where you play illegal poker hands, discover game-changing jokers, and trigger adrenaline-pumping, outrageous combos.
Combine valid poker hands with unique Joker cards in order to create varied synergies and builds. Earn enough chips to beat devious blinds, all while uncovering hidden bonus hands and decks as you progress. You’re going to need every edge you can get in order to reach the boss blind, beat the final ante and secure victory
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Android, iOS
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, Digital Card Game, Roguelike
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
